New Report — Earth Materials and Health: Research Priorities for Earth Science and Public Health

The National Research Council (NRC) recently published the report "Earth Materials and Health: Research Priorities for Earth Science and Public Health." "This report presents a broad update describing our understanding of the interactions between earth materials and public health, provides an introduction to successful past cooperative scientific activities at the interface of the earth and health sciences, and suggests future avenues for crossover and integration of research for the common good of humankind" (from page 10). The report also identifies research priorities at the intersection of earth materials and human health­ by focusing on 4 basic human exposure pathways—air, drinking water, food, and exposure though natural and human changes to the environment.

"The interface between the earth sciences and public health is pervasive and enormously complex. Collaborative research at this interface is in its infancy, with great potential to ameliorate the adverse health effects and enhance the beneficial health effects from earth materials and earth processes."
-- from page 5